All - Advice given on HJ Questions

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
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Fri 11 Jun 2021 13:52
All - Advice given on HJ Questions - sammy1

Always read the advice to questions on the site and find some of the answers not at all helpful

Today a chap as a Honda Civic with a faulty alternator part claimed to be £1100

No practical advice given other than usual consumer rights etc How about suggesting he go to a specialist auto electrician or independent garage or source a part from the many parts recycling outlets. The Honda Civic is a very common car

Again chap with a BMW 7 series he has a failed module for wipers and indicators.

Again no practical answer other than try other dealers for the part

Same as above go to Auto electric specialist or the second hand part outlet. May be the module is common to other BMWs probably is in this day and age.

If the site is to give answers then please expand outside the Dealer network and give more expansive answers

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Fri 11 Jun 2021 15:07
All - Advice given on HJ Questions - galileo

Good points, I too have questioned some of the advice given, some has seemed just wrong.

(I have spent many years servicing and repairing my own cars, I have two friends who own independent garages, both have many years experience and have shared tips with me. )

I can understand why 'advice' directs questioners to dealers and .suppliers of new parts. Presumably to avoid possible lawsuits if suggestions to source used items or independent garages turns out badly, there is a disclaimer on the Back Room forum though.

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Fri 11 Jun 2021 15:21
All - Advice given on HJ Questions - _

You could always email yourself with comments quoting the questions answers you saw.

I did in regard to a query with dvla and was thanked for the info.

ORB

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Fri 11 Jun 2021 15:34
All - Advice given on HJ Questions - Sprice

The female responder (Georgia Petrie) basically always says "contact Citizen's Advice"

Edited by Sprice on 11/06/2021 at 15:34

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Fri 11 Jun 2021 15:47
All - Advice given on HJ Questions - SLO76
Prepared a big diatribe on this and the flaming site did what it does all the time to me when trying to post using my iPhone it deletes my efforts. Can’t be bothered to type it all out again.
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Fri 11 Jun 2021 19:41
All - Advice given on HJ Questions - Xileno

That's a pain. Is it any time you use the iPhone or when writing a long post? If it's a long post you may be hitting the timeout, which will happen on any device.

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Sat 12 Jun 2021 00:28
All - Advice given on HJ Questions - SLO76

That's a pain. Is it any time you use the iPhone or when writing a long post? If it's a long post you may be hitting the timeout, which will happen on any device.

Figure that’s what it is. Royal pain in the ass.
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Fri 11 Jun 2021 22:06
All - Advice given on HJ Questions - alan1302
Prepared a big diatribe on this and the flaming site did what it does all the time to me when trying to post using my iPhone it deletes my efforts. Can’t be bothered to type it all out again.

Always worth copying a long post before you hit the post a message.

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Sat 12 Jun 2021 01:15
All - Advice given on HJ Questions - edlithgow

I type them out in Wordpad locally for anything other than one-liners, unless I forget. Then it seems to get me almost every time.

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Sat 12 Jun 2021 09:56
All - Advice given on HJ Questions - SLO76
“ Always worth copying a long post before you hit the post a message”

That would require common sense.
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Sat 12 Jun 2021 10:13
All - Advice given on HJ Questions - _
“ Always worth copying a long post before you hit the post a message” That would require common sense.

Of which, I am eminently sure tthat you have plenty of.

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Sat 12 Jun 2021 14:44
All - Advice given on HJ Questions - Engineer Andy
Prepared a big diatribe on this and the flaming site did what it does all the time to me when trying to post using my iPhone it deletes my efforts. Can’t be bothered to type it all out again.

What I sometimes do for one of my longer posts (especially where I've done a decent amount of research or pondering) is to copy the text into memory (as I use a desktop I then paste it into Notepad to 'hold' it just in case the post is deleted or there's a glitch), so it can be re-done in a few seconds.

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Sat 12 Jun 2021 18:10
All - Advice given on HJ Questions - sammy1

All very interesting for those who post long boring posts but what about the original theme of £1100 for an alternator for a Honda Civic only 4 years old. Hardly a car I would recommend to anybody having owned a Honda

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Sat 12 Jun 2021 18:53
All - Advice given on HJ Questions - Xileno

I'm not sure why a post would be boring just because it's long but anyway.

If anyone has any complaints about the answers given in other areas of the site, then probably best to contact the relevant editor as ORB has done in the past. I'm sure all will know as moderators we are only responsible for the Backroom. I doubt the editors look in the Backroom unless there's a problem been flagged, they will be busy with their day jobs.

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Sat 12 Jun 2021 23:14
All - Advice given on HJ Questions - sammy1

Not a complaint just an observation of the many dull answers given in the questions column.

I cannot understand why forum members decided in this post to have a conversation about ways to compile long replies.

It only looks like a few want to form an opinion of a very expensive Honda alternator on this a site for open discussion. Just think if it were you being asked to fork out this money to a Honda dealer. Presumably Andrew Jervis who asked the question is free to read this or maybe he just asked his question in the wrong place

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Sat 12 Jun 2021 23:33
All - Advice given on HJ Questions - alan1302

I cannot understand why forum members decided in this post to have a conversation about ways to compile long replies.

If you read the posts you would understand - SLO said he had written a post and tried to post it but it had timed out so others (including me) told him ways we try and prevent that issue happening.

Why you have an issue with giving advice to another forum member is beyond me.

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Sat 12 Jun 2021 23:51
All - Advice given on HJ Questions - SLO76
Regarding that Civic, I would’ve told them (assuming a full Honda service history) to contact Honda customer services direct then if they get no joy post a few negative reviews online. I motivated our local Honda dealer to fit a new clutch to a two year old CRV which was suffering irritating and unacceptable judder through contacting Honda after the dealer had fobbed me off and the Volvo dealer through a negative review which was quickly picked up by the dealers head office and the branch was instructed to repair my car foc. I withdrew the review after they acted.

It’s rare that Civics go wrong but it’s an example of the crippling cost of all this emissions control gubbins our cars are saddled with today. An alternator, starter and battery are all more costly on any car equipped with stop/start. Still £1100 was a nonsense figure. I’ll wager that if they do the above the firm will offer improved goodwill. If however it has been serviced by auld Tam in his shed or the 18yr old lad at the local fast fit centre then it’s time to get the cheque book out.
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Sun 13 Jun 2021 09:13
All - Advice given on HJ Questions - FiestaOwner
Regarding that Civic, I would’ve told them (assuming a full Honda service history) to contact Honda customer services direct then if they get no joy post a few negative reviews online. I motivated our local Honda dealer to fit a new clutch to a two year old CRV which was suffering irritating and unacceptable judder through contacting Honda after the dealer had fobbed me off and the Volvo dealer through a negative review which was quickly picked up by the dealers head office and the branch was instructed to repair my car foc. I withdrew the review after they acted. It’s rare that Civics go wrong but it’s an example of the crippling cost of all this emissions control gubbins our cars are saddled with today. An alternator, starter and battery are all more costly on any car equipped with stop/start. Still £1100 was a nonsense figure. I’ll wager that if they do the above the firm will offer improved goodwill. If however it has been serviced by auld Tam in his shed or the 18yr old lad at the local fast fit centre then it’s time to get the cheque book out.

This Honda garage is treating the customer as a complete mug! An alternator is available (2017 Civic 1.8 Petrol) on Euro Car Parts for £273.89 if you use the latest discount code on the Euro Car Parts Website (they always have a discount code on their website). Currently it's GOAL45

www.eurocarparts.com/p/lucas-alternator-401600661

Admittedly it's a reconditioned unit and it's only available at this price if they get the old one back. You can also arrange fitting through ECP.

It's because dealers treat customers like this that punters take their cars to "auld Tam in his shed or the 18yr old lad at the local fast fit centre".

So in answer to sammy1's original point. I agree, the advice on HJ answers isn't particularly helpful.

Edited by FiestaOwner on 13/06/2021 at 09:20

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